FR Doc 03-31933
[Federal Register: December 30, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 249)]
[Notices]
[Page 75278-75279]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30de03-110]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Field Museum of Natural History,
Chicago, IL
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, of the
completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary
objects in the possession of the Field Museum of Natural History,
Chicago, IL. The human remains and associated funerary objects were
removed from Fort Peck Indian Reservation, MT, and from an unknown
location in Montana.
This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d)(3).
The determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of
the museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects. The
National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within
this notice.
[[Page 75279]]
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Field Museum
of Natural History professional staff in consultation with
representatives of Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian
Reservation, Montana.
In July 1900, human remains representing a minimum of two
individuals were removed from the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, MT.
Field Museum of Natural History records state that anthropologist
Stewart Culin removed the human remains from Fort Peck. In 1902, the
human remains were transferred to the Field Museum of Natural History
from the Free Museum of Science and Art (now the University of
Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA)
as part of an exchange. No known individuals were identified. The 20
associated funerary objects are 1 bracelet (possibly bone), 3 stones, 1
small piece of dirt or clay, 13 copper alloy bracelets, 1 leather knife
sheath, and 1 wooden stick.
Field Museum of Natural History staff consulted with University of
Pennsylvania Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology staff who had no
additional information about the human remains and associated funerary
objects. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and
Anthropology records, however, indicate that Mr. Culin removed other
human remains from a box grave outside of the Fort Peck Indian
Reservation at the same time as the human remains and funerary objects
held by the Field Museum of Natural History were removed.
The human remains and associated funerary objects have been
identified as Native American, based on the identification of Sioux
cultural affiliation in museum records and based on identification of
origin on the Fort Peck Reservation, MT. The physical condition of the
human remains and associated funerary objects indicates that they are
of relatively recent historical origin. Field Museum of Natural History
records identify the human remains as Sioux. Sioux descendents in
Montana are represented by the present-day Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes
of the Fort Peck Reservation, Montana.
At an unknown time, the Field Museum of Natural History acquired
human remains representing a minimum of one individual. No known
individual is identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Field Museum of Natural History records identify the human remains
as those of a ``Montana, Sioux [sic],'' indicating that the collector
was aware of the cultural affiliation of the individual. Based on the
specific cultural and geographic attribution in the museum records, the
human remains are determined to be culturally affiliated with the Sioux
tribes. Sioux descendents in Montana are represented by the present-day
Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation, Montana.
Officials of the Field Museum of Natural History have determined
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains listed above
represent the physical remains of three individuals of Native American
ancestry. Officials of the Field Museum of Natural History also have
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 20 objects
listed above are reasonably believed to have been placed with or near
individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the
death rite or ceremony. Lastly, officials of the Field Museum of
Natural History also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001
(2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be
reasonably traced between the Native American human remains and
associated funerary objects and the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the
Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary
objects should contact Helen Robbins, Repatriation Specialist, Field
Museum of Natural History, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL,
60605-2496, telephone (312) 665-7317, before January 29, 2004.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to
the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation,
Montana may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come
forward.
The Field Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying
the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation,
Montana that this notice has been published.
Dated: October 30, 2003.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 03-31933 Filed 12-29-03; 8:45 am]
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